Slide glass storage device, conveying device and microscope system

ABSTRACT

A slide glass storage device including: a supply tray which has a supply holding space determined by a longer edge upper limit allowed for a longer edge of a slide glass and a shorter edge upper limit allowed for a shorter edge of the slide glass and on which a slide glass to be supplied to a treatment unit operable to perform a predetermined treatment is mounted; a discharge tray which has a discharge holding space determined by a longer edge longer than the longer edge upper limit and a shorter edge longer than the shorter edge upper limit and on which a slide glass having been subjected to the treatment in the treatment unit and being to be discharged is mounted; and a support unit supporting the supply tray and the discharge tray.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Japanese Priority PatentApplication JP 2010-150527 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jun. 30,2010, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates to a slide glass storage device, aconveying device and a microscope system, and is suitable forapplication, for example, to the field of observing a biological sample(living body sample) through magnification.

Heretofore, as a technique of observing a biological sample, there hasbeen widely used a technique in which the biological sample is placed ona stage of a microscope and is observed by the observer's naked eye.

On the other hand, in recent years, there has been proposed a microscopesystem corresponding to the so-called virtual slide system in which animage sensing element is disposed at the focal position of an ocular ofa microscope, namely, at a location corresponding to the observer's eye,and image data representing a biological sample in a magnified form isformed.

The thus formed image data has various advantages in that the image datacan be presented to the observer in the state of being displayed on adisplay unit of a computer system or the like, the image data isexcellent in storage properties and reproducibility, the image data canbe easily transmitted to a remote place, and so on.

Particularly, in the case where it is desired to form multiple pieces ofimage data of biological samples, it may be necessary in the microscopesystem to repeat a replacing treatment of preliminarily preparing amultiplicity of slide glasses, supplying one sheet of the slide glassonto a stage, performing a photographing treatment (image pick-uptreatment) and then replacing the slide glass.

In view of this, examples of the microscope systems which have beenproposed include one in which, in order to automate the replacingtreatment, one sheet of slide glass at a time is taken out from acassette in which a plurality of rows of stacks each having slideglasses stacked at a predetermined interval are contained, and the thustaken-out slide glass is conveyed along a rectilinear direction, to besequentially set onto a stage one by one (see, for example, PCT PatentPublication No. WO2006/098442 (FIGS. 1 and 3), hereinafter referred toas Patent Document 1).

SUMMARY

Meanwhile, in the cases of utilizing such a microscope system, also,there is a case in which, for example, it is desirable for the operatorto select one sheet of slide glass at a time and set it onto the stage,instead of preliminarily storing slide glasses in a cassette.

In this case, there may be contemplated a configuration wherein, forexample, a tray capable of having only one sheet of slide glass mountedthereon is prepared and is used to replace the above-mentioned cassette.In this microscope system, the slide glass mounted on the tray isconveyed onto the stage by the operator, and the slide glass having beensubjected to a photographing treatment on the stage is conveyed onto thetray by the operator.

Meanwhile, in this microscope system, in the case where a slide glassfalls outside of an allowable range prescribed in regard of the size ofslide glass, it may be impossible to properly mount the slide glass onthe stage or the slide glass may fall or be broken during conveyance.

To cope with this problem, it may be contemplated to set theabove-mentioned tray to a size equal or approximate to the allowablerange. In this case, the operator can easily recognize that a slideglass which cannot be properly mounted on the tray falls outside of theallowable range.

In this microscope system, however, in the process in which the slideglass having been subjected to the photographing treatment is dischargedonto the tray, there is an extremely high possibility that the positionor angle of the slide glass may be deviated from a proper state. In thismicroscope system, therefore, if the tray is sized to be equal orapproximate to the allowable range, the slide glass in such a deviatedstate cannot appropriately be discharged onto the tray, and the slideglass may be broken through falling, collision or the like.

In other words, the microscope system provided with such a tray has beendisadvantageous in that the working efficiency of the operator cannotnecessarily be enhanced with respect to replacement of the slide glass.

Thus, there is a need for a proposal of a slide glass storage device, aconveying device and a microscope system such that the workingefficiency in replacing a slide glass can be enhanced.

According to one embodiment, there is provided a slide glass storagedevice including: a supply tray which has a supply holding spacedetermined by a longer edge upper limit allowed for a longer edge of aslide glass and a shorter edge upper limit allowed for a shorter edge ofthe slide glass and on which a slide glass to be supplied to a treatmentunit operable to perform a predetermined treatment is mounted; adischarge tray which has a discharge holding space determined by alonger edge longer than the longer edge upper limit and a shorter edgelonger than the shorter edge upper limit and on which a slide glasshaving been subjected to the treatment in the treatment unit and beingto be discharged is mounted; and a support unit supporting the supplytray and the discharge tray.

In the slide glass storage device, the supply tray permits the operatorto easily judge whether or not a treatment of a slide glass isappropriate to carry out on the basis of the size of the slide glass,and the discharge tray permits slide glasses not uniform in position orinclination to be discharged in an assured manner.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a conveying deviceincluding: a stage which holds only one sheet of slide glass to besubjected to a predetermined treatment; a slide glass storage deviceincluding a supply tray which has a supply holding space determined by alonger edge upper limit allowed for a longer edge of a slide glass and ashorter edge upper limit allowed for a shorter edge of the slide glassand on which a slide glass to be supplied to a treatment unit ismounted, a discharge tray which has a discharge holding space determinedby a longer edge longer than the longer edge upper limit and a shorteredge longer than the shorter edge upper limit and on which a slide glasshaving been subjected to the treatment on the stage and discharged ismounted, and a support unit which supports the supply tray and thedischarge tray; a supply arm by which one sheet of the slide glass to besubjected to the treatment is picked up from the supply tray of theslide glass storage device and is supplied onto the stage; a dischargearm by which the slide glass mounted on the stage is picked up and isdischarged onto the discharge tray of the slide glass storage device; amoving unit which moves the supply arm and the discharge arm in anintegral manner so as to bring the supply arm or the discharge arm intoproximity to each of the slide glass storage device or the stage; and acontrol unit which controls the supply arm, the discharge arm and themoving unit.

In the conveying device, the supply tray permits the operator to easilyjudge whether or not a treatment of a slide glass is appropriate tocarry out on the basis of the size of the slide glass, and the dischargetray permits slide glasses not uniform in position or inclination to bedischarged in an assured manner.

According to a further embodiment, there is provided a microscope systemincluding: a stage operable to hold thereon only one sheet of slideglass of which a magnified image is to be formed; a slide glass storagedevice including a supply tray which has a supply holding spacedetermined by a longer edge upper limit allowed for a longer edge of aslide glass and a shorter edge upper limit allowed for a shorter edge ofthe slide glass and on which a slide glass to be supplied onto the stageis mounted, a discharge tray which has a discharge holding spacedetermined by a longer edge longer than the longer edge upper limit anda shorter edge longer than the shorter edge upper limit and on which aslide glass having been subjected to formation of the magnified imageand discharged is mounted, and a support unit which supports the supplytray and the discharge tray; a supply arm operable to pick up one sheetof the slide glass of which the magnified image is to be formed, fromthe supply tray of the slide glass storage device, and operable tosupply the slide glass onto the stage; a discharge arm by which theslide glass mounted on the stage is picked up and is discharged onto thedischarge tray of the slide glass storage device; a moving unit whichmoves the supply arm and the discharge arm in an integral manner so asto bring the supply arm or the discharge arm into proximity to each ofthe slide glass storage device or the stage; and a control unit whichcontrols the supply arm, the discharge arm and the moving unit.

In the microscope system, the supply tray permits the operator to easilyjudge whether or not a treatment of a slide glass to form a magnifiedimage of the slide glass is appropriate to carry out on the basis of thesize of the slide glass, and the discharge tray permits slide glassesnot uniform in position or inclination to be discharged in an assuredmanner.

In accordance with the one embodiment and the another embodiment, thesupply tray permits the operator to easily judge whether or not atreatment of a slide glass is appropriate to carry out on the basis ofthe size of the slide glass, and the discharge tray permits slideglasses not uniform in position or inclination to be discharged in anassured manner. Consequently, it is possible to realize a slide glassstorage device and a microscope system such that the working efficiencyin replacing a slide glass can be enhanced.

In accordance with the further embodiment, the supply tray permits theoperator to easily judge whether or not a treatment of a slide glass toform a magnified image of the slide glass is appropriate to carry out onthe basis of the size of the slide glass, and the discharge tray permitsslide glasses not uniform in position or inclination to be discharged inan assured manner. Consequently, it is possible to realize a microscopesystem such that the working efficiency in replacing a slide glass canbe enhanced.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the configuration of amicroscope system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a controllingunit;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the manner of mountinga multi-sheet cassette;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams showing the configuration of the multi-sheetcassette;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing the center-of-gravity position ofthe multi-sheet cassette;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a one-sheet tray;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the configuration of asupply tray;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic top plan view showing the configuration of thesupply tray;

FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrammatic perspective views showing theconfiguration of a discharge tray;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic top plan view showing the configuration of thedischarge tray;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the configuration ofa supply arm and a discharge arm;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrammatic perspective views for illustratingthe configuration and movement of a clamp block;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view for illustrating contractionof the supply arm;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a basic conveyingoperation process of the supply arm;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a pick-up operationprocess by the supply arm;

FIG. 16 is flow chart showing the procedure of a releasing operationprocess by the supply arm;

FIGS. 17 to 21 are diagrammatic perspective views showing basicconveying operations (1) to (5);

FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a basic conveyingoperation process of a discharge arm;

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a pick-up operationprocess by the discharge arm;

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a releasing operationprocess by the discharge arm;

FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a conveying operationprocess by the supply arm and the discharge arm;

FIGS. 26 to 46 are diagrammatic perspective views showing conveyingoperations (1) to (21) by the supply arm and the discharge arm; and

FIGS. 47A and 47B are diagrams for illustrating comparison of occupiedareas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present application will be described below in detailwith reference to the drawings.

1. First Embodiment

2. Other Embodiments

1. First Embodiment>

1-1. General Configuration of Microscope System

In FIG. 1, a microscope system 1 according to this embodiment includes amicroscope unit 2, a conveying unit 3, and a controlling unit (notshown) 4.

The microscope unit 2 picks up an image, magnified in a predeterminedscale factor, of a biological sample SPL disposed on a slide glass SG.The conveying unit 3 supplies a slide glass SG onto a stage of themicroscope unit 2, and discharges the slide glass SG from the stage. Thecontrolling unit 4 controls the components of the microscope unit 2 andthe conveying unit 3, and picks up the image formed through photographyby the microscope unit 2.

The slide glass SG has, immobilized thereon by a predeterminedimmobilizing technique, a biological sample SPL having a tissue sectionor smear cells of a connective tissue (e.g., blood) or an epithelialtissue or both of them. The tissue section or the smear cells may bestained, as required. Examples of the staining include not only generalstaining represented by HE (hematoxylin-eosin) staining, Giemsastaining, Papanicolaou staining, etc. but also fluorescent staining suchas FISH (Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization), enzyme-antibody method,etc.

Incidentally, the slide glass SG, in the state of having the biologicalsample SPL mounted thereon, is coated with an embedding agent, and,further, is covered with a cover glass.

Besides, in the microscope system 1, with respect to the slide glass SG,lengths to be used as references for the longer (major) edge and theshorter (minor) edge are prescribed. Furthermore, a longer edge upperlimit and a longer edge lower limit as well as a shorter edge upperlimit and a shorter edge lower limit are prescribed, by taking allowableerrors into account in addition to the respective lengths of the longeredge and the shorter edge.

Hereinafter, the range from the longer edge lower limit to the longeredge upper limit will be referred to as “longer edge allowable range,”and the range from the shorter edge lower limit to the shorter edgeupper limit will be referred to as “shorter edge allowable range.”Further, the situation in which the longer edge of the slide glass SG iswithin the longer edge allowable range and the shorter edge is withinthe shorter edge allowable range is expressed as “(to fall) within theallowable range,” whereas the other situations are expressed as “notwithin the allowable range” or “(to fall) outside of the allowablerange.”

In the microscope unit 2, a frame section 12 is disposed at apredetermined position on the depth side on an upper surface 11A of aroughly flat plate-like base section 11 disposed substantiallyhorizontally, and a transmitting illumination section 13 is disposed onthe user's side of the frame section 12.

The frame section 12 has a prop section 12A extending in a direction(Z-axis direction) orthogonal to the upper surface 11A of the basesection 11 and a support unit 12B extending in a direction toward theuser's side (Y-axis direction) substantial horizontally in relation tothe base section 11 from one end on the upper side of the prop section12A, and is L-shaped in general form in side view.

A surface on the user's side of the prop section 12A is formed with aguide 12C along the Z-axis direction, and a stage unit 14 is providedwhich is movable in the Z-axis direction while being engaged with theguide 12C.

The stage unit 14 is provided with a stage 15 on which a slide glass SGis to be mounted and fixed, and a stage driving mechanism 16 which movesthe stage 15 in the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions.

The stage 15 is provided with a plurality of movable-type clip membersfor fixing or releasing the slide glass SG mounted on the stage 15. Thestage 15 is so configured that, if a slide glass SG falling within theallowable range is mounted properly, the slide glass SG can be properlyfixed or released by the clip members.

The support unit 12B is provided, at a position substantially on avertical line of the transmitting illumination section 13, with a lenssystem 17 having an optical axis coincident with the vertical line andwith an image sensing element 18, sequentially in this order toward theupper side (the Z-axis direction side) of the stage 15.

The lens system 17 has a plurality of lenses including an objective lensand an image forming lens, and magnifies in a predetermined scale factorthe image of the biological sample SPL arranged on the slide glass SGmounted on the stage 15 and illuminated by the transmitting illuminationsection 13. The image sensing element 18 is so configured that the imageof the biological sample SPL magnified by the lens system 17 is formedon an image sensing plane, whereby the image can be picked up.

1-2. Configuration of Controlling Unit

The controlling unit 4 is so configured as to control the components ofthe microscope unit 2, to subject the image data on a subject (to bephotographed) obtained by image sensing to a predetermined imageprocessing or the like, and to store the thus processed image data intoa predetermined storage unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the controlling unit 4 is composed mainly of acontrol unit 21 which has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21A forexecuting various arithmetic processes, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 21Bhaving data preliminarily stored therein, and a RAM (Random AccessMemory) 21C for momentarily storing data.

The control unit 21 is so configured that, while using the RAM 21C as awork area, the CPU 21A executes various programs read from the ROM 21Bor the storage unit 23 through a bus 22, and stores various data intothe storage unit 23.

The storage unit 23 has, for example, a hard disc drive, an optical discdrive, a flash memory or the like, and is so designed as to be capableof storing therein various large-capacity data such as high-resolutionimage data.

An operating unit 24 has, for example, a keyboard, various switches, atouch panel or the like, for accepting user's operation inputs and forsupplying the control unit 21 with operation instructions representingthe contents of the input operations.

A display unit 25 has, for example, a liquid crystal display, an EL(Electro Luminescence) display, a plasma display or the like, which candisplay various display screens and picked-up image data as images.

An interface 26 is so designed as to perform transmission and receptionof various control signals, detection signals, various data or the likebetween itself and the stage 15, the stage driving mechanism 16 and theimage sensing element 18 of the microscope unit 2 as well as theconveying unit 3 to be described later.

1-3. Configuration of Conveying Unit

The conveying unit 3 (FIG. 1) has a configuration based on a basesection 31 connected to the base section 11 of the microscope unit 2 andextended in a substantially horizontal direction.

At a substantially central portion of an upper surface 31A of the basesection 31, there is provided a roughly circular disk-shaped rotatingbase 32 capable of rotation about a center axis X substantiallyperpendicular to the upper surface 31A. From an upper surface 32A of therotating base 32, a prop 33 substantially triangular prism-like in shapeis extended in a direction substantially perpendicular to the uppersurface 32A, namely, substantially along the Z-axis direction.

With a side surface of the prop 33 is engaged with a carriage 34 througha movement rail 33A extending along the Z-axis direction. The carriage34 is driven through a driving mechanism (not shown), based on thecontrol conducted by the controlling unit 4, whereby the carriage 34 canbe moved upward or downward in the state of being engaged with themovement rail 33A.

The carriage 34 is fitted with a supply arm 35 for supplying a slideglass SG onto the stage 15 (FIG. 1) and a discharge arm 36 fordischarging the slide glass SG from the stage 15 (this will be describedin detail later).

On the other hand, pedestals 37A, 37B, 37C, 37D and 37E (hereinafterthese are collectively referred to as pedestals 37) substantiallyrectangular parallelopiped in shape are arranged on the upper surface31A of the base section 31 at five locations at an angular interval ofabout 45 degrees along the circumference of a circle having a radiusgreater than the radius of the rotating base 32, with the imaginarycenter line X as a center axis.

Each of the pedestals 37A to 37E is so arranged that its longer edgefaces the rotation center of the rotating base 32, specifically, thatthe perpendicular to its longer edge at the center of the longer edgeintersects the imaginary center line X.

On the pedestals 37, as shown in FIG. 3 corresponding to FIG. 1, therecan be respectively mounted multi-sheet cassettes 40 each serving as astorage device in which up to 60 sheets of slide glasses SG to besupplied onto the stage 15 can be stored. Incidentally, in the case ofFIG. 3, the conveying unit 3 is provided with five multi-sheet cassettes40 so that a total of 300 sheets of slide glasses SG can be stored.

Besides, as shown in FIG. 1, a one-sheet tray 50 as a storage device forstoring one sheet of slide glass SG to be supplied onto the stage 15 canalso be mounted to the pedestal 37. Furthermore, the conveying unit 3can store the slide glasses SG in such a combination manner that, forexample, a one-sheet tray 50 is mounted to the pedestal 37A, whereasmulti-sheet cassettes 40 are mounted respectively to the pedestals 37Bto 37E.

For convenience of description, the multi-sheet cassettes 40 and theone-sheet tray 50 mounted respectively to the pedestals 37 willhereinafter be collectively referred to as storage unit 38.

In practice, the conveying unit 3 is so configured that the supply arm35 or the discharge arm 36 can be slewed into a desired direction and beadjusted to a desired height, by a combination of a rotating operationof the rotating base 32 and a moving operation of the carriage 34, underthe control of the controlling unit 4.

Thus, the conveying unit 3 is so configured that the supply arm 35 orthe discharge arm 36 can be made to face the stage 15 (FIG. 1) or can bemade to face one of slots in one of the multi-sheet cassettes 40 in thestorage unit 38.

1-4. Configuration of Multi-Sheet Cassette

As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, the multi-sheet cassette 40 has abottom surface section 41, side surface plates 42 and 43 and an topplate 44 which are combined in a box-like shape so as to form aninterior space for storing the slide glasses SG therein.

Incidentally, FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the multi-sheet cassette40 as viewed from a right front upper side, whereas FIGS. 4B and 4C arerespectively a front view and a right side view of the same.

The bottom surface section 41 is roughly rectangular parallelopiped inshape, and can be engaged with the pedestal 37 of the conveying unit 3through an engaging mechanism (not shown). In addition, the bottomsurface section 41 has the side surface plates 42 and 43 screwedrespectively to both left and right side surfaces thereof.

Each of the side surface plates 42 and 43 is elongated roughlyrectangular parallelopiped in overall shape such that its longitudinaldirection is oriented in a substantially vertical direction when it ismounted to the bottom surface section 41. In addition, each of the sidesurface plates 42 and 43 is provided, on the side to be the inside uponassemblage, with substantially horizontal slits for each holding theside of one end in the longitudinal direction of the slide glass SG,with the number of the slits being equal to the number of sheets ofslide glasses SG stored in each multi-sheet cassette 40 (namely, 60sheets) and with the slits being formed repeatedly in the verticaldirection.

In other words, the multi-sheet cassette 40 is so designed that theslide glasses SG can each be held in the manner of bridging between thecorresponding slits in the side surface plates 42 and 43. In this case,the spaces which are each defined by the slits in the multi-sheetcassettes 40 and each capable of containing one sheet of slide glass SGare so designed as to be able to contain a slide glass SG having thelonger edge maximum length and the shorter edge maximum length. Thespace will be referred to as a slot.

Besides, the surfaces of the slits are formed to be smooth so as toreduce friction thereon. Therefore, in the multi-sheet cassette 40, itis possible, by only sliding the slide glass SG relative to the slitsformed in the side surface plates 42 and 43, to smoothly load and unloadthe slide glass SG into and from the multi-sheet cassette 40.

Furthermore, the side surface plates 42 and 43 are fitted, on the depthside, with plate-like protective plates 42A and 43A for preventing theslide glasses SG from slipping off to the depth side of the slits. Inother words, the multi-sheet cassette 40 is so designed that insertionor taking-out of the slide glasses SG can be conducted only on the frontside on which the slits are opened.

A top plate 44 is configured in a flat rectangular parallelopiped shapeas if obtained by thinning the bottom surface plate 41 in the verticaldirection, and is so designed to have the side surface plates 42 and 43screwed respectively to both left and right side surfaces thereof.

Further, the top plate 44 is fitted, on its left and right sidesurfaces, with a handle support plate 45 having a roughly triangularthin plate member and a handle support plate 46 formed in left-rightsymmetry with the handle support plate 45. Each of the handle supportplates 45 and 46 is formed in such a shape that the upper-side vertex isdeviated from the base toward the user's side.

Between the upper-side vertexes of the handle support plates 45 and 46,a roughly cylindrical grip section 47 interconnecting the vertexes isbridgingly provided.

Here, as shown in a schematic side view in FIG. 5A, the center ofgravity of the multi-sheet cassette 40 is roughly at the position of apoint P1, both in a state of being not loaded with the slide glasses SG(namely, in an empty state) and in a state of being fully loaded withsixty slide glasses SG.

In addition, the grip section 47 is so designed that the angle θ betweenthe vertical line and an imaginary straight line L1 interconnecting thecenter-of-gravity point P1 of the multi-sheet cassette 40 as a whole andthe center point P2 of the grip section 47 is in the range of 4 to 6degrees.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the grip section 47 of themulti-sheet cassette 40 is gripped by the user or the like, thecenter-of-gravity point P1 is located substantially just under thecenter point P2 of the grip section 47, so that the multi-sheet cassette40 is inclined to have its front-side surface oriented slightly upward.

Specifically, during when the multi-sheet cassette 40 is transported,simple gripping of the grip section 47 by the operator ensures that thedepth side on which the protective plates 42A and 43A are attached canbe oriented downward and the side on which the slits are opened can beoriented upward. Consequently, it is possible to greatly reduce thepossibility that the slide glasses SG might fall during transportationof the multi-sheet cassette 40.

Besides, when the multi-sheet cassette 40 is mounted on a horizontalbase or mounted to the pedestal 37, it is set substantially upright(vertical), so that the slits are returned to be horizontal.Accordingly, by simply applying a comparatively weak force to each slideglass SG in a horizontal direction, the slide glass SG can be insertedinto the multi-sheet cassette 40 or taken out of the multi-sheetcassette 40 through sliding in the slit.

Incidentally, the angle θ of the multi-sheet cassette 40 is set to benot less than 4 degrees so as to prevent the slide glasses SG fromslipping off when the grip section 47 is gripped by the operator or thelike. In addition, the angle θ is set to be not more than 6 degrees soas to prevent positional deviation (shifting) of the cover glass on theslide glass SG immediately after preparation thereof

1-5. Configuration of One-Sheet Tray

As shown in FIG. 6, a one-sheet tray 50 has a configuration in which asupply tray 52 is provided in the vicinity of an upper end of a thinplate-like support plate 51, and a discharge tray 53 is provided underthe supply tray 52.

1-5-1. Configuration of Supply Tray

As a perspective view is shown in FIG. 7 and a top plan view is shown inFIG. 8, the supply tray 52 is configured to be substantially rectangularparallelopiped in overall shape, and is shaped as if its upper side werecut in conformity with the slide glass SG and a space necessary formounting the slide glass SG.

The supply tray 52 is so designed as to hold a slide glass SG in aholding space 52E (FIG. 8) surrounded by inside walls 52A1, 52A2, 52B,52C1, 52C2, 52D1 and 52D2.

In this instance, the supply tray 52 support the slide glass SG on thelower side of the latter by support surfaces 52F1, 52F2 and 52F3(hatched in FIG. 8). In addition, the supply tray 52 is opened on theupper side of the holding space 52E.

In practice, the supply tray 52 is so designed that the slide glass SGis mounted thereon from the upper side according to the holding space52E by an operator's manual work, and, thereafter, the slide glass SG isgripped and taken out by the supply arm 35.

Besides, the supply tray 52 is provided with a space 52J ensuring that afinger for pinching the slide glass SG from the lower side can escapewhen the operator mounts the slide glass, and with a space 52K forinsertion of a tip portion of the supply arm 35 (FIG. 1).

Further, the supply tray 52 is provided, on the opposite side to thespace 52J with reference to the longitudinal direction, with an inclinedsurface section 52L permitting the operator to mount the slide glass SGso as to positionally adjust it to the holding space 52E while slidingits end surface in its longitudinal direction, and with an abuttingplate 52M.

Meanwhile, the supply tray 52 is so designed that the longer edge andthe shorter edge of the holding space 52E surrounded by the inside walls52A1, 52A2, 52B, 52C1, 52C2, 52D1 and 52D2 are set to be respectivelycomparable to the longer edge upper limit and the shorter edge upperlimit of the slide glass SG.

Specifically, the holding space 52E of the supply tray 52 is so designedthat a slide glass SG falling outside of the allowable range, forexample, a slide glass SG having a cover glass or an embedding agentprotruding sideways or a slide glass SG having a longer edge greaterthan the longer edge upper limit, cannot be mounted in the holding space52E.

Incidentally, the supply tray 52 ensures that a slide glass SG having alonger edge smaller than the longer edge upper limit or having a shorteredge smaller than the shorter edge upper limit would chatter in theholding space 52E, so that the operator can clearly recognize that thelonger edge or the shorter edge of the slide glass is smaller thanprescribed.

In addition, the size of the holding space 52E is so set as to prevent,as assuredly as possible, the formation of a superfluous space in thesurroundings of the slide glass SG, thereby limiting the mounting rangeof the slide glass SG to a certain extent. With such a configuration,the supply tray 52 ensures that the slide glass SG is positioned in acomparatively narrow range and can be properly gripped by the supply arm35 (FIG. 1).

Further, in the supply tray 52, the steps between partial upper surfaces52N1 and 52N2 continuous with the inside walls 52C1 and 52C2 and thesupport surfaces 52F2 and 52F3 are restricted to be low. Incidentally,the steps are set to a height corresponding, for example, to the totalthickness of one or two slide glasses SG.

This ensures in the supply tray 52 that a slide glass SG falling outsideof the allowable range would not make proper contact with the supportsurfaces 52F1, 52F2 and 52F3, and a part thereof would ride onto thepartial upper surface 52N1 or 52N2, whereby such a slide glass SG can beput into an instable state, so to speak, a “chattering” state.

With such a configuration, the supply tray 52 permits the operator torecognize through tactile sensation, visual sensation or auditorysensation that the slide glass SG is not properly contained in theholding space 52E, namely, that the slide glass SG is instable and isexceeding the prescribed size.

Further, the spacing between the support surfaces 52F1, 52F2 and thesupport surface 52F3 of the supply tray 52 is set to be comparable tothe longer edge lower limit of the slide glass SG. With thisconfiguration, the supply tray 52 ensures that a slide glass SG whichhas the length of the longer edge being below the longer edge lowerlimit and which may therefore slip off from the supply arm 35 or thestage 15 (FIG. 1) cannot be mounted properly.

In this instance, the supply tray 52 permits the operator to recognizethrough tactile sensation, visual sensation or auditory sensation thatthe slide glass SG has the longer edge less than the longer edge lowerlimit, based on the situation in which the slide glass SG is notproperly supported by the support surfaces 52F1, 52F2 and 52F3 but is inan instable state.

Thus, the supply tray 52 is so configured that a slide glass SG fallingoutside of the allowable range cannot be properly mounted thereon. Withsuch a configuration, the supply tray 52 permits the operator or thelike to easily recognize a slide glass SG falling outside of theallowable range and to immediately understand that the image of theslide glass SG cannot be picked up by the microscope system 1.

1-5-2. Configuration of Discharge Tray

As perspective views are shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B and a top plan view isshown in FIG. 10, the discharge tray 53 is roughly rectangularparallelopiped in overall shape, and has a shape as if its upper sidewere cut in conformity with the slide glass SG and a space necessary formounting the slide glass SG.

For convenience of description, hereinafter, of that side surface of thedischarge tray 53 into which the discharge arm 36 is to be inserted willbe referred to as an insertion surface 53S1, and the opposite sidesurface as a discharge surface 53S2.

The discharge tray 53 is so designed as to hold a slide glass SG in aholding space 53D which is defined between inside surfaces 53A1, 53A2and inside surfaces 53B1, 53B2 corresponding to the shorter edge side ofthe slide glass SG, is opened at a portion corresponding to the longeredge side of the slide glass SG and is partitioned by inside bottomsurfaces 53C1, 53C2.

While the inside surfaces 53A1 and 53B1 are set to be substantiallyparallel to each other, the inside surfaces 53A2 and 53B2 are inclinedso that the spacing therebetween is broadened as one approaches theinsertion surface 53S1.

In addition, between the inside bottom surfaces 53C1 and 53C2 is formeda space 53E for insertion therein of a tip portion of the discharge arm36 (FIG. 1) from the insertion surface 53S1 side.

On the other hand, on the upper side of the discharge surface 53S2 isformed a projected section 53F which is projected as compared with thesurroundings thereof. The projected section 53F has bored therein a hole53G penetrating from the holding space 53D and having a passage sectionsuch as to permit the slide glass SG to pass therethroughperpendicularly to the longer edge of the slide glass SG.

In practice, when a slide glass SG is conveyed from the insertionsurface 53S1 side of the discharge tray 53 by the discharge arm 36, thedischarge tray 53 holds the slide glass SG in its holding space 53D.

Here, a state ideal for a slide glass SG at the time of insertionthereof into the discharge tray 53 by the discharge arm 36 is a state inwhich the advancing direction of the discharge arm 36 and the shorteredge of the slide glass SG are substantially parallel to each otherwhereas the insertion surface 53S1 and the longer edge of the slideglass SG are substantially parallel to each other. Hereinafter, thisstate will be referred to as the ideal insertion state.

Due to the influences of a gripping motion of the discharge arm 36 atthe time of taking out the slide glass SG from the stage 15 or the like,however, the slide glass SG may be inserted into the discharge tray 53while being in a state of being deviated from the ideal insertion statein the longer edge direction or in a state of being inclined (turned) ina horizontal direction from the ideal insertion state.

In relation to this point, the discharge tray 53 is so configured thatthe spacing between the inside surfaces 53A2 and 53B2 at the portion onthe insertion surface side is sufficiently longer (wider) than theprescribed length of the slide glass SG and is made shorter (narrower)as one advances deeper into the inside. Accordingly, the discharge tray53 permits assured insertion of the slide glass SG into the holdingspace 53D.

In this instance, the discharge tray 53 ensures that when the slideglass SG is inserted into the holding space 53D from the insertionsurface 53S1 side, the slide glass SG is made to make contact with theinside surfaces 53A2 and 53B2 which are so formed that the spacingtherebetween is gradually narrowed along the inside direction.

With the discharge tray 53 configured in this manner, a positionaldeviation or an inclination, if any, of the slide glass SG can begradually corrected in such a manner that the shorter edge of the slideglass SG is gradually brought to a state of being substantially parallelto the advancing direction of the slide glass SG.

Thereafter, in the discharge tray 53, the longer edge on the insertionsurface side of the slide glass SG held in the holding space 53D ispushed in by a tip portion of the discharge arm 36, whereby a part ofthe slide glass SG is exposed from the hole 53G, as shown in FIG. 9C.

With this configuration, the discharge tray 53 permits the operator toeasily grip and take out the slide glass SG, which is located on thelower side of the supply tray 52 and is therefore hard to take out as itis.

Thus, in the one-sheet tray 50, a tray for supply and a tray fordischarge are provided independently from each other, and, further, thesupply tray 52 and the discharge tray 53 are set different in shapeaccording to the purposes thereof.

1-6. Configuration of Supply Arm and Discharge Arm

Now, the supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36 will be described below.The supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36 are similar to each other inconfiguration, and are attached to the carriage 34 in the state ofextending in the same direction and being overlappingly arranged on theupper and lower sides.

1-6-1. Configuration of Supply Arm

As shown in FIG. 11, the supply arm 35 includes an arm fixation section60 to be fixed to the carriage 34, and an arm movement section 70 whichis moved relative to the arm fixation section 60 and by which the slideglass SG can be gripped.

The arm fixation section 60 is composed chiefly of a roughly rectangularparallelopiped arm base 61 which has a flat shape being thin in thevertical direction. The arm base 61 is mounted to the carriage 34(FIG. 1) through its mounting surface 61A, which is a side surface onthe side of one end in regard of the longitudinal direction thereof.

Hereafter, in the arm base 61, the direction from the mounting surface61A side toward the opposite side will be defined as a Q-axis direction,the direction from the lower side toward the upper side will be definedas an R-axis direction, and one direction orthogonal to both the Q-axisand the R-axis will be defined as a P-axis direction.

Near both side surface portions in regard of the P-axis direction of thearm base 61, roughly cylindrical moving shafts 62A and 62B are providedalong the Q-axis direction.

In the inside of a roughly central portion of the arm base 61, atranslation section 63 having a motor or the like is provided, and arotational driving force thereof is transmitted to a gear 63A providedto protrude to the upper side (+R direction) beyond the upper surface ofthe arm base 61.

At a predetermined location on the upper surface of the arm base 61, asensor 64 is provided for detecting that the arm movement section 70 islocated at a predetermined position in a −Q direction.

In addition, to a side surface on the +Q side of the arm base 61, afall-off preventive guide 65 shaped as if obtained by bending aplate-like member is mounted.

Of the fall-off preventive guide 65, a flat plate section 65A having aflat plate-like shape is mounted to the arm base 61 substantially inparallel to a side surface on the +Q side of the arm base 61, with itslongitudinal direction coinciding with the P-axis direction.

At both end portions in regard of the P-axis direction of the flat platesection 65A, guide sections 65B and 65C for preventing the slide glassSG from falling off in the P-axis direction are provided.

The guide section 65B has a structure wherein a coupling plate 65B1having a roughly rectangular shape, having a length of about two timesthe length of the flat plate section 65A in the R-axis direction andbeing short in the Q-axis direction is provided at the +P side end ofthe flat plate section 65A in the state of being flush with the flatplate section 65A at the −R side end surface and extending to beinclined slightly to the +P direction rather than the +Q direction,namely, to be opened outward.

At the upper half of the coupling plate 65B1, a rectangular guide plate65B2 having a length comparable to the length of the flat plate section65A in the R-axis direction and a length comparable to the length of theshorter edge of the slide glass SG in the Q-axis direction is providedto extend toward the −Q direction.

In addition, to a −Q side position of the +P side surface of the guideplate 65B2, an extension guide plate 65B3 composed of a rectangularmember roughly the same as the guide plate 65B2 in shape is partlyoverlappingly attached by a screw (not shown) or the like. Further, theextension guide plate 65B3 is bent to the −P side (namely, the innerside), in the vicinity of a −Q side terminal portion of the guide plate62B2.

The guide section 65C is configured substantially in symmetry with theguide section 65B about the Q axis and the R axis, and has a couplingplate 65C1, a guide plate 65C2 and an extension guide plate 65C3 whichcorrespond to the coupling plate 65B1, the guide plate 65B2 and theextension guide plate 65B3, respectively.

Here, the spacing between the guide plates 65B2 and 65C2 is regulated tobe comparable to the longer edge upper limit for the slide glass SG.Therefore, the space defined between the guide sections 65B and 65Cserves as a space in which a slide glass SG falling within the allowablerange can be held. Hereafter, this space will be referred to as theholding space 65D.

Due to the inclinations of the coupling plates 65B1 and 65C1, theholding space 65D is so shaped that, at its portion on the +Q side, itis broadened in the P-axis direction as one advances in the +Qdirection.

On the other hand, the arm movement section 70 is composed chiefly of anarm sliding body 71 which is slid along the Q-axis direction relative tothe arm base 61 and is thereby moved substantially in parallel to theupper surface of the arm base 61.

The arm sliding body 71 has a thin plate shape having lengths comparableto the lengths of the arm base 61 in the Q-axis direction and the P-axisdirection, and its peripheral side portions are bent to the upper side(+R side) so as to secure strength.

The arm sliding body 71 is formed, on the +Q side, with a smooth mountsurface 71BX on which to mount the slide glass SG. The mount surface71BX is provided, at a +Q side end portion thereof, with fixing claws71BY as fixing grip elements which rise up to the upper side (+R side).

In addition, the arm sliding body 71 is provided, in its portion rangingfrom the center toward the −Q side, with a roughly elliptic hole 71Ahaving a hole diameter permitting the gear 63A to escape therethroughand having a major diameter along the Q-axis direction. The hole 71A isprovided, on a +P-side side surface thereof, with a rack 71AX formeshing with the gear 63A.

Further, the arm sliding body 71 is fitted, under the −Q side thereof,with bearing sections 72A and 72B corresponding respectively to themoving shafts 62A and 62B.

In the supply arm 35 thus configured, the gear 63A is rotationallydriven by the translation section 63 on the basis of the control by thecontrolling unit 4, whereby the arm movement section 70 can be slidalong the Q-axis direction relative to the arm fixation section 60.

For example, through a contracting operation of the supply arm 35wherein the arm movement section 70 is slid in the −Q direction in thecondition where a slide glass SG is mounted on the mount surface 71BX,the slide glass SG can be moved so as to be drawn into the holding space65D.

In this instance, the supply arm 35 ensures that, even if the slideglass SG is mounted at a position somewhat deviated in the P-axisdirection, the position of the slide glass SG in regard of the P-axisdirection can be corrected toward the center, by drawing the slide glassSG while keeping it in contact with the guide section 65B or 65C.

Further, the arm sliding body 71 is provided at its upper surface with aclamp unit 73 at a position deviated in the −Q direction from the fixingclaws 71BY to leave therebetween a spacing comparable to the shorteredge upper limit for the slide glass SG, slightly on the +Q siderelative to the center of the arm sliding body 71.

As shown in FIG. 12A, the clamp unit 73 is composed of a combination ofa plurality of component parts, with a mounting plate 74 as a chiefmember. The mounting plate 74 has a bottom plate section 74A roughlyflat plate-like in overall shape and mounted to the upper surface of thearm sliding body 71, and a side plate section 74B extended toward theupper side (+R side) from an end portion on the −Q side of the bottomplate section 74A.

On the −Q side of the side plate section 74B, a clamp motor 75 ismounted. An output shaft of the clamp motor 75 is extended in the +Qdirection to penetrate a hole bored in the side plate section 74B, andis formed with a spiral groove.

On the other hand, in an area ranging from the center to a +Q-side endportion of the upper surface of the bottom plate section 74A, a clampblock 76 as a moving grip element having a flat roughly rectangularparallelopiped shape is provided so that it can be slid along the Q-axisdirection relative to the bottom plate section 74A. The clamp block 76is provided with a hole penetrating the inside thereof from a −Q-sideside surface thereof, and is provided therein with a bearing 76B forscrew engagement with the output shaft of the clamp motor 75.

In addition, the clamp block 76 is provided, under the +Q-side sidesurface thereof, with a projected section 76A composed of a prismprojected relative to the surroundings and elongated in the Q-axisdirection. The length in the R-axis direction (namely, the thickness) ofthe projected section 76A is set to be comparable to or slightly smallerthan the thickness of the slide glass SG exclusive of the cover glass.

In the clamp unit 73 thus configured, with the clamp motor 75 driven onthe basis of the control by the controlling unit 4, the clamp block 76can be moved in the +Q direction or the −Q direction.

Here, in the clamp unit 73, the spacing between the fixing claws 71BYand the projected section 76A of the clamp block 76 (hereafter, thisspacing will be referred to as the grip spacing (or grip interval)) isvaried between the prescribed length of the shorter edge of the slideglass SG and a length slightly extended from the prescribed length. Inother words, in the clamp unit 73, the movable range of the clamp block76 is set to be comparatively narrow. Therefore, in the clamp unit 73,the moving operation of the clamp block 76 can be completed in a shorttime.

In addition, the clamp unit 73 is so configured that the clamp block 76is driven by a comparatively strong force.

In the case where the slide glass SG is practically gripped by thesupply arm 35 (FIG. 11), the spacing between the projected section 76Aand the fixing claws 71BY is widened preliminarily by moving the clampblock 76 in the −Q direction, as shown in FIG. 12A, before the slideglass SG is mounted on the mount surface 71BX. Hereafter, the operationof moving the clamp block 76 in the −Q direction will be referred to asthe releasing operation.

Thereafter, the supply arm 35 moves the slide glass SG into the holdingspace 65, as shown in FIG. 13, by moving the arm movement section 70 inthe −Q direction to effect contraction, in the condition where the slideglass SG is mounted on the mount surface 71BX.

Subsequently, in the supply arm 35, the clamp block 76 is moved in the+Q direction with a predetermined torque, as shown in FIG. 12B.Hereafter, the operation of moving the clamp block 76 in the +Qdirection will be referred to as the pressing operation.

By this operation, the supply arm 35 clamps the slide glass SG (which isheld in the holding space 65D) between the projected section 76A of theclamp block 76 and the fixing claws 71BY, whereby the slide glass SG canbe fixed on the supply arm 35.

In this instance, the projected section 76A abuts on the slide glass SGitself. Therefore, even if the cover glass on the slide glass SG isprotruding sideways, the projected section 76A would not exert anypressing force on the cover glass and, therefore, would not break thecover glass.

Hereafter, the operation of the arm movement section 70 to fix the slideglass SG by clamping it between the projected section 76A of the clampblock 76 and the fixing claws 71BY will be referred to as the grippingoperation.

Besides, in the following, the mechanism for gripping the slide glass SGwhich includes the mount surface 71BX, the fixing claws 71BY and theprojected section 76A of the clamp block 76, on the tip side of the armmovement section 70, will be referred to as the gripping unit 70A.

Meanwhile, on the +P side and the −P side on the upper surface of theclamp block 76 (FIG. 12A), there are respectively provided detectionsection pieces 77A and 77B formed by bending sheet-like members into aroughly L shape in side view.

The detection section piece 77A is in a state wherein a part thereof isfixed to the upper surface of the clamp block 76, and a +P-side tipportion thereof is bent to the lower side (−R side) at a portionprotruding in the +P direction beyond the +P-side side surface of theclamp block 76.

Besides, the detection section piece 77B is substantially the same asthe detection section piece 77A in shape, and is mounted as if thedetection section piece 77A were rotated by half turn about the R axisso that a −P-side tip portion thereof is protruded in the −P directionbeyond the −P-side side surface of the clamp block 76.

Further, to those parts of the bottom plate section 74A which correspondrespectively to the detection section pieces 77A and 77B, sensors 78Aand 78B are mounted for respectively detecting that the detectionsection pieces 77A and 77B are located at predetermined positions,namely, that the grip spacing is equal to a predetermined spacing.

Incidentally, in the clamp unit 73, the mounting positions of thesensors 78A and 78B are so set as to make it possible to detectrespectively that the grip spacing is less than the shorter edge lowerlimit for the slide glass SG and that the grip spacing is more than theshorter edge upper limit for the slide glass SG.

With the supply arm 35 thus configured, when the slide glass SG isgripped, it is possible to detect whether or not the length of theshorter edge of the slide glass SG is within the shorter edge allowablerange.

In this manner, the supply arm 35 is so designed that the slide glass SGcan be moved into the holding space 65D by the contracting operation ofsliding the arm movement section 70 in the −Q direction and that theslide glass SG can be gripped by the gripping operation of the grippingunit 70A.

1-6-2. Basic Conveying Operation of Supply Arm

In practice, the controlling unit 4 (FIG. 2) basically executes acontrol according to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, in thecase of conveying a slide glass SG by the supply arm 35.

Incidentally, here, description will be made by taking as an example thecase of conveying onto the stage 15 a slide glass SG stored in thestorage unit 38 having the multi-sheet cassette 40. Besides, in thefollowing, the slide glass SG serving as an object (target) ofconveyance will be referred to as the target slide glass (SGT).

For example, upon receiving a starting instruction for a conveyingoperation by the supply arm 35 through the operating unit 24, thecontrol unit 21 of the controlling unit 4 starts routine RT1 (FIG. 14)and proceeds to step SP1.

In step SP1, the control unit 21 moves the carriage 34 in the verticaldirection, so as to adjust the height of the supply arm 35 to the heightof a storage part where the target slide glass SGT is stored, andproceeds to the next step SP2.

In this instance, the control unit 21 controls the height of thecarriage 34 so that upper end portions of the fixing claws 71BY (FIG.11) of the supply arm 35 are set slightly below the lower surface of thetarget slide glass SGT.

In step SP2, the control unit 21 proceeds to a sub-routine SRT1 (FIG.15) in order to perform a pick-up operation process by the supply arm35, and enters step SP11.

In step SP11, the control unit 21 controls the translation section 63 ofthe supply arm 35, to thereby effects an extending operation of slidingthe arm movement section 70 (FIG. 11) in the +Q direction as shown inFIG. 17, and proceeds to the next step SP12.

In this case, the mount surface 71BX of the arm movement section 70 islocated substantially just under the target slide glass SGT.

In step SP12, the control unit 21 moves the carriage 34 upward so as toraise the supply arm 35, and proceeds to the next step SP13.

In this instance, the supply arm 35 causes the target slide glass SGT tobe mounted on the mount surface 71BX, and causes both end portions inregard of the longitudinal direction of the target slide glass SGT to beraised from the slit portions of the multi-sheet cassette 40.

In step SP13, the control unit 21 controls the translation section 63 ofthe supply arm 35 to perform a contracting operation, and proceeds tothe next step SP14.

In this case, when the target slide glass SGT is not caught on the guidesection 65B or 65C, the supply arm 35 contracts the arm movement section70 completely, as shown in FIG. 18, thereby moving the target slideglass SGT into the holding space 65D.

On the other hand, when the target slide glass SGT is caught on theguide section 65B or 65C or the like, the supply arm 35 does notirrationally slide the arm movement section 70 but stops it at anintermediate position, in order to prevent the target slide glass SGTfrom being broken. In this case, the target slide glass SGT is not drawninto the holding space 65D.

In step SP14, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the armmovement section 70 of the supply arm 35 has successfully beencontracted completely, based on the results of detection by the sensor64.

When an affirmative determination is obtained in step SP14, it meansthat the target slide glass SGT has successfully been moved into theholding space 65D without being caught on the guide section 65B or 65C,in other words, that the length of the longer edge of the target slideglass SGT is not more than the longer edge upper limit. In thisinstance, in order to advance a conveying process of the target slideglass SGT, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step SP15.

In step SP15, the control unit 21 controls the clamp motor 75 in theclamp unit 73 of the supply arm 35, to effect a pressing operation ofmoving the clamp block 76 in the +Q direction. By this, the control unit21 causes the target slide glass SGT to be gripped between the projectedsection 76A of the clamp block 76 and the fixing claws 71BY, andproceeds to the next step SP16.

Incidentally, since the moving distance of the clamp block 76 in theclamp unit 73 is short, the gripping operation is completed in anextremely short time.

In this instance, the supply arm 35 can detect the grip spacing (gripinterval), based on the functions of the sensors 78A and 78B in theclamp unit 73.

In step SP16, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the gripinterval thus detected is within the shorter edge allowable range. Whenan affirmative determination is obtained here, it means that both thelonger edge and the shorter edge of the target slide glass SGT beinggripped are within the respective allowable ranges, in other words, thatthe target slide glass SGT can be properly disposed on the stage 15. Inthis instance, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step SP20.

On the other hand, when a negative determination is obtained in stepSP14, it means that the target slide glass SGT has not successfully beenmoved into the holding space 65D but has been caught on the guidesection 65B or 65C, because the target slide glass SGT exceeds thelonger edge upper limit or because of other reason. In this instance,the control unit 21 determines that the target slide glass SGT inquestion at present cannot be gripped and therefore cannot be conveyedonto the stage 15. Then, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next stepSP17.

In step SP17, the control unit 21 controls the translation section 63 ofthe supply arm 35 so as to effect an extending operation of sliding thearm movement section 70 (FIG. 11) in the +Q direction, and proceeds tothe next step SP18.

In this instance, the target slide glass SGT is in the state of beingmounted on the mount surface 71BX in an original storage site in thestorage unit 38, specifically, in the state of being lifted up from theslit sections of the multi-sheet cassette 40.

In step SP18, the control unit 21 moves the carriage 34 downward tothereby lower the supply arm 35, and proceeds to the next step SP20.

In this case, the target slide glass SGT is returned into a state inwhich both its end portions in regard of the longitudinal direction aresupported by the slit portions of the multi-sheet cassette 40, in otherwords, into the same state as before the start of the pick-up operation.

On the other hand, when a negative determination is obtained in stepSP16, it means that the length of the shorter edge of the target slideglass SGT falls outside of the allowable range and that the target slideglass SGT cannot be properly fixed onto the stage 15. In this instance,the control unit 21 determines that the target slide glass SGT shouldnot be conveyed onto the stage 15, and proceeds to the next step SP19.

In step SP19, the control unit 21 controls the clamp motor 75 in theclamp unit 73, so as to effect a releasing operation of moving the clampblock 76 in the

−Q direction, and proceeds to the next step SP17.

In this case, the target slide glass SGT is in the state of not beinggripped by the gripping unit 70A, in other words, in the state of beingmounted on the mount surface 71BX.

Thereafter, like in the case where the negative determination isobtained in step SP14, the control unit 21 executes the processes ofsteps SP17 and SP18, to thereby return the target slide glass SGT intothe same state as before the start of the pick-up operation, andproceeds to the next step SP20.

In step SP20, the control unit 21 transfers to the routine RT1 thedetermination data representing whether or not the target slide glassSGT has successfully been gripped normally, finishes the sub-routineSRT1, then returns to step SP2 in the original routine RT1 (FIG. 14),and proceeds to the next step SP3.

In step SP3, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the targetslide glass SGT has successfully be gripped normally, based on thedetermination data brought from the sub-routine SRT1. When anaffirmative determination is obtained here, it means that the conveyingoperation for the target slide glass SGT of concern at present should becontinued. In this instance, the control unit 21 proceeds to the nextstep SP4.

In step SP4, the control unit 21 controls the rotating base 32 so as toslew the supply arm 35 into a direction for facing the stage 15(hereafter, this direction will be referred to as the stage direction),as shown in FIG. 19, and proceeds to the next step SP5.

In this instance, forces in various directions arising from actions of acentrifugal force and a moment of inertia attendant on the rotatingmotion, etc. are exerted on the slide glass SG. However, the supply arm35 continues holding the target slide glass SGT in the holding space65D, without dropping it, by the functions of the guide sections 65B and65C as well as the fixing claws 71BY and the projected section 76A ofthe clamp block 76.

In step SP5, the control unit 21 controls of the carriage 34 so as toadjust the height of the supply arm 35 to the stage 15, and proceeds tothe next step SP6.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 20, the control unit 21 in this instancecontrols the height of the supply arm 35 so that the mount surface 71BXof the supply arm 35 is slightly higher than the upper surface of thestage 15.

In step SP6, the control unit 21 proceeds to sub-routine SRT2 (FIG. 16)in order to perform a releasing operation process by the supply arm 35,and enters step SP31.

In step SP31, the control unit 21 controls the translation section 63 ofthe supply arm 35, so as to effect an extending operation of sliding thearm movement section 70 (FIG. 11) in the +Q direction, as shown in FIG.21, and then proceeds to the next step SP32.

In this instance, the target slide glass SGT is located at a positionsubstantially just above that position on the stage 15 at which theslide glass is to be mounted.

In step SP32, the control unit 21 controls the clamp motor 75 in theclamp unit 73 so as to perform a releasing operation of moving the clampblock 76 in the

−Q direction, and proceeds to the next step SP33.

In this instance, the target slide glass SGT is in the state of notbeing gripped by the gripping unit 70A, in other words, in the state ofbeing mounted on the mount surface 71BX without being not fixed in anyway.

In step SP33, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to movedownward so as to lower the supply arm 35, and then proceeds to the nextstep SP34.

In this instance, the target slide glass SGT is in a state wherein itscentral portion is supported by the mount surface 71BX of the supply arm35 and both its end portions in regard of the longitudinal direction aresupported by the stage 15.

In step SP34, the control unit 21 operates the clip members on the stage15 to perform a fixing process of fixing the slide glass SG, and thenproceeds to the next step SP35.

In step SP35, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to movedownward so as to lower the supply arm 35, and proceeds to the next stepSP36.

In this instance, the supply arm 35 is put into a state wherein themount surface 71BX is spaced from the target slide glass SGT fixed onthe stage 15 and, further, upper end portions of the fixing claws 71BYare located below the lower surface of the target slide glass SGT.

In step SP36, the control unit 21 controls the translation section 63 ofthe supply arm 35 so as to perform a contracting operation, and proceedsto the next step SP37.

In this instance, the supply arm 35 finishes releasing the slide glassSG, thereby coming into so to speak an empty state.

In step SP37, the control unit 21 finishes the sub-routine SRT2, returnsto step SP6 in the original routine RT1 (FIG. 14), and proceeds to thenext step SP7. In step SP7, the control unit 21 finishes routine RT1,thereby completing the basic conveying operation of the supply arm 35.

On the other hand, when a negative determination is obtained in stepSP3, it means that a conveying operation for the target slide glass SGTof concern at present cannot be continued. In this instance, the controlunit 21 proceeds to step SP7, thereby to complete routine RT1.

Thus, in its basic conveying operation, the supply arm 35 is socontrolled that it is detected whether or not the lengths of the longeredge and the shorter edge of the slide glass SG are within therespective allowable ranges, and performs the conveying operation onlyin the case where the lengths are within the allowable ranges.

Incidentally, the control unit 21 of the controlling unit 4 is sodesigned as to perform a similar conveying operation also in the casewhere a supply tray 52 of a one-sheet tray 50 provided as a storage unit38 is used as a storage site.

1-6-3. Configuration of Discharge Arm

The discharge arm 36 (FIG. 11) is similar to the supply arm 35 inconfiguration, and has an arm fixation section 80 and an arm movementsection 90 which correspond to the arm fixation section 60 and the armmovement section 70, respectively.

The arm fixation section 80 is configured in the same manner as the armfixation section 60 of the supply arm 35, except for having a fall-offpreventive guide 85 corresponding to the fall-off preventive guide 65.

The fall-off preventive guide 85 includes a flat plate section 85A andguide sections 85B and 85C corresponding respectively to the flat platesection 65A and the guide sections 65B and 65C of the fall-offpreventive guide 65.

The flat plate section 85A is greater than the flat plate section 65A inlength in the P-axis direction. The guide sections 85B and 85C aregreater than the guide sections 65B and 65C in inclination angle, fromthe Q-axis direction toward the P-axis direction, of coupling plates85B1 and 85C1 which correspond respectively to the coupling plates 65B1and 65C1.

This ensures that, when the arm fixation section 80 is compared with thearm fixation section 60, a holding space 85D defined by the guidesections 85B and 85C is larger than the holding space 65D. In otherwords, the holding space 85D has a length in the Q-axis direction and alength in the P-axis direction which are greater than the longer edgeupper limit and the shorter edge upper limit for the slide glass SG.

In addition, the arm movement section 90 is configured in the samemanner as the arm movement section 70 of the supply arm 35, except forhaving a clamp unit 93 in place of the clamp unit 73 (FIG. 12A).

The clamp unit 93 is configured in the same manner as the clamp unit 73,except for having a mounting plate 94 in place of the mounting plate 74.

The mounting plate 94 has a structure in which the length in the Q-axisdirection is reduced and the movable range of a clamp block 76 isenlarged in the −Q direction, as compared with the mounting plate 74.Consequently, in the arm movement section 90, the spacing from fixingclaws 71BY to a projected section 76A of the clamp block 76 in agripping unit 90A is enlarged, as compared with that in the arm movementsection 70.

Consequently, in the clamp unit 93, the time required for a movingoperation of the clamp block 76 is longer than that in the clamp unit73.

Thus, the discharge arm 36 can perform an extending operation and acontracting operation in the same manner as the supply arm 35. Inaddition, the discharge arm 36 has the holding space 85D greater thanthe holding space 65D in the supply arm 35. Further, the moving range ofthe clamp block 76 in the clamp unit 93 of the discharge arm 36 isbroadened, as compared with that in the supply arm 35.

[1-6-4. Basic Conveying Operation of Discharge Arm]

In practice, the controlling unit 4 (FIG. 2) executes a controlaccording to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, in the case ofconveying a slide glass SG by the discharge arm 36. The flow charts inFIGS. 22 to 24 basically correspond to the flow charts in FIGS. 14 to16, respectively, but the procedures of processing in both cases arepartly different.

Incidentally, here, description will be made by taking as an example thecase of conveying a slide glass SG (target slide glass SGT) mounted onthe stage 15 into the storage unit 38 having the multi-sheet cassette40.

For example, upon receiving a starting instruction for a conveyingoperation by the discharge arm 36 through the operating unit 24, thecontrol unit 21 of the controlling unit 4 starts routine RT2 andproceeds to step SP41.

In step SP41, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to move in thevertical direction so as to adjust the height of the discharge arm 36 tothe height of the stage 15 on which the target slide glass SGT ismounted, and proceeds to the next step SP42.

In this instance, the height of the discharge arm 36 is so adjusted thatupper end portions of the fixing claws 71BY (FIG. 11) are set slightlybelow the lower surface of the target slide glass SGT.

In step SP42, the control unit 21 proceeds to a sub-routine SRT3 (FIG.23) in order to perform a pick-up operation process by the discharge arm36, and enters step SP51.

Incidentally, the sub-routine SRT3 shows a procedure of process as ifderived from the sub-routine SRT1 (FIG. 15), which represents theprocedure of the pick-up operation process by the supply arm 35, byomitting the determination process and the process of returning thetarget slide glass SGT into an original position.

Specifically, in step SP51, the control unit 21 controls the translationsection 63 of a discharge arm 36 so as to perform an extending operationof sliding the arm movement section 90 (FIG. 11) in the +Q direction,and then proceeds to the next step SP52.

In this instance, the mount surface 71BX of the arm movement section 90is located substantially just under the target slide glass SGT.

In step SP52, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to move upwardso as to raise the discharge arm 36, and proceeds to the next step SP53.

In this instance, the discharge arm 36 mounts the target slide glass SGTonto the mount surface 71BX, and lifts up both end portions in regard ofthe longitudinal direction of the target slide glass SGT from the stage15.

In step SP53, the control unit 21 controls the translation section 63 ofthe discharge arm 36 to perform a contracting operation, and proceeds tostep SP54.

In this instance, as shown in FIG. 21, the discharge arm 36 contractsthe arm movement section 90 completely, to move the target slide glassSGT into the holding space 85D.

Incidentally, as above-mentioned, the discharge arm 36 has a structurewherein the length in the Q-axis direction and the length in the P-axisdirection of the holding space 85D are set to be greater than the longeredge upper limit and the shorter edge upper limit for the slide glassSG, respectively. Therefore, even if the target slide glass SGT isinclined on the mount surface 71BX or is positionally deviated in theP-axis direction, the discharge arm 36 can picks up the target slideglass SGT into the holding space 85D.

In step SP54, the control unit 21 controls the clamp motor 75 in theclamp unit 93 of the discharge arm 36 so as to perform a pressingoperation of moving the clamp block 76 in the +Q direction. By this, thecontrol unit 21 causes the target slide glass SGT to be gripped betweenthe projected section 76A of the clamp block 76 and the fixing claws71BY, and proceeds to the next step SP55.

Incidentally, as above-mentioned, in the discharge arm 36, the movingrange of the clamp block 76 in the clamp unit 93 is enlarged as comparedwith that in the clamp unit 73 of the supply arm 35. Therefore, even ifthe target slide glass SGT is inclined on the mount surface 71BX, thedischarge arm 36 can appropriately grip the target slide glass SGT whilecorrecting the inclination.

In step SP55, the control unit 21 finishes the sub-routine SRT3, returnsto step SP42 in the original routine RT2 (FIG. 22), and then proceeds tothe next step SP43.

In step SP43, the control unit 21 controls the rotating base 32 so as toslew the discharge arm 36 into a direction for facing the multi-sheetcassette 40 provided as the storage unit 38 (hereafter, this directionwill be referred to as the storage direction), as shown in FIG. 19, andproceeds to the next step SP44.

In step SP44, the control unit 21 controls the carriage 34 so as toadjust the height of the discharge arm 36 to that slot in themulti-sheet cassette 40 in which to store the target slide glass SGT(hereafter, this place will be referred to as the discharge site), andproceeds to the next step SP45.

In step SP45, the control unit 21 proceeds to a sub-routine SRT4 (FIG.24) in order to perform a releasing operation process by the dischargearm 36, and enters step SP61.

Incidentally, the sub-routine SRT4 shows a procedure of process as ifderived from the sub-routine SRT2 (FIG. 16), representing the procedureof the releasing operation process by the supply arm 35, by omitting thestep SP34 and uniting the process of step SP33 with the process of stepSP35.

Specifically, in step SP61, the control unit 21 controls the translationsection 63 of the discharge arm 36 so as to perform an extendingoperation of sliding the arm movement section 90 (FIG. 11) in the +Qdirection, and then proceeds to step SP62.

In this instance, the target slide glass SGT is in the state of beinggripped by the gripping unit 90A in the slot of the discharge site, asshown in FIG. 17.

In step SP62, like in step SP32, the control unit 21 controls the clampmotor 75 in the clamp unit 93 to perform a releasing operation of movingthe clamp block 76 in the −Q direction, and proceeds to the next stepSP63.

In this instance, the target slide glass SGT is in the state of notbeing gripped by the gripping unit 90A, in other words, in the state ofbeing mounted on the mount surface 71BX without being fixed in any way.

In step SP63, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to movedownward so as to lower the discharge arm 36, and proceeds to the nextstep SP64.

In this instance, the target slide glass SGT is in a state wherein bothits end portions in regard of the longitudinal direction are supportedby the slit portions of the multi-sheet cassette 40 and it is spacedfrom the mount surface 71BX. In addition, the discharge arm 36 is in astate wherein upper end portions of the fixing claws 71BY are locatedbelow the lower surface of the target slide glass SGT.

In step SP64, the control unit 21 controls the translation section 63 ofthe discharge arm 36 so as to perform a contracting operation, andproceeds to the next step SP65.

In step SP65, the control unit 21 determines whether or not thedischarge site at present is the discharge tray 53 of the one-sheet tray50. In this case, the discharge site is a slot in the multi-sheetcassette 40; therefore, the control unit 21 obtains a negativedetermination, and proceeds to step SP69.

In step SP69, the control unit 21 finishes the sub-routine SRT4, returnsto step SP45 in the original routine RT2 (FIG. 22), and proceeds to thenext step SP46. In step SP46, the control unit 21 finishes the routineRT2, thereby finishing the basic conveying operation of the dischargearm 36.

Meanwhile, in the microscope system 1, in the case where the one-sheettray 50 (FIG. 6) is used in place of the multi-sheet cassette 40 as thestorage unit 38, the releasing operation for the slide glass SG can becarried out by using the discharge tray 53 as the discharge site.

In this instance, upon completion of step SP64 in the sub-routine SRT4,the control unit 21 causes the target slide glass SGT to be releasedinto the holding space 53D, while supporting the target slide glass SGTby the inside bottom surfaces 53C1 and 53C2 of the discharge tray 53(FIG. 9).

Further, upon obtaining an affirmative determination in step SP65, thecontrol unit 21 proceeds to step SP66. In step SP66, the control unit 21causes the carriage 34 to move upward so as to raise the discharge arm36, and proceeds to the next step SP67.

In this instance, the discharge arm 36 adjusts the height of +Q-sidesurface portions of the fixing claws 71BY to the height of a sidesurface portion of the target slide glass SGT.

In step SP67, the control unit 21 controls the translation section 63 ofthe discharge arm 36 so as to perform an extending operation of slidingthe arm movement section 90 (FIG. 11) by a predetermined distance in the+Q direction, and then proceeds to the next step SP68.

In this instance, the discharge arm 36 extends the arm movement section90 to such an extent as to bring the fixing claws 71BY to asubstantially central area of the holding space 53D, thereby bringing+Q-side surface portions of the fixing claws 71BY into contact with aside surface portion of the target slide glass SGT, and moves it in themanner of pushing it directly toward the discharge surface 53S2 side.

Consequently, a part of the target slide glass SGT is exposed from thehole 53G, as has been shown in FIG. 9C. Incidentally, the amount ofexposure of the target slide glass SGT is set to such an extent that theoperator can hold (pinch) the target slide glass SGT by fingers and thatthe target slide glass SGT would not fall off.

In step SP68, the control unit 21 performs a process similar to that ofstep SP64 to contract the discharge arm 36, thereby drawing out thegripping unit 90A completely from the discharge tray 53, and thenproceeds to the next step SP69.

In step SP69, the control unit 21 finishes the sub-routine SRT4, therebyfinishing the releasing (discharging) operation into the discharge tray53 by the discharge arm 36.

Thus, the control unit 21 is so designed as to perform a pushing-outprocess as expressed in steps SP66 to SP69 in the case where thedischarge site is the discharge tray 53 of the one-sheet tray 50.

1-6-5. Conveying Operation by Supply Arm and Discharge Arm

Meanwhile, in the microscope system 1, in the case of performing acontinuous image sensing process of continuously sensing the images of aplurality of slide glasses SG, the slide glass SG on the stage 15 has tobe sequentially replaced by the conveying unit 3.

In this instance, in the microscope system 1, a combined conveyingoperation is carried out such that the above-mentioned basic conveyingoperation of the supply arm 35 and the above-mentioned basic conveyingoperation of the discharge arm 36 are made to proceed concurrently.

Here, the procedure of a conveying operation process conducted by use ofthe supply arm and the discharge arm will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. 25 and the perspective views shown in FIGS. 26 to46.

Incidentally, here, the slide glass SG to be subjected to image sensing(photography) first is referred to as slide glass SG1, and the slideglass SG to be subjected to image sensing (photography) next is referredto as slide glass SG2. The slide glass SG1 is assumed to have alreadybeen mounted on the stage 15, as shown in FIG. 26, and is being under animage sensing (photographing) treatment. In addition, the slide glassSG2 is assumed to be being stored in a predetermined slot in themulti-sheet cassette 40 provided as the storage unit 38 (hereafter, thisslot will be referred to as the supply site).

Upon receiving a starting instruction for a continuous image sensingtreatment through the operating unit 24, for example, the control unit21 in the controlling unit 4 reads out a continuous image sensingprogram from the storage unit 23, and executes the program. In thisinstance, the control unit 21 carries out repeatedly a replacing processof replacing once the slide glass SG on the stage 15, according to thecontinuous image sensing program.

In the case of performing the replacing process, the control unit 21reads out a predetermined replacing process program from the storageunit 23, to thereby start a routine RT3, and proceeds to step SP71.

In step SP71, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to move in thevertical direction, so as to adjust the carriage 34 to a predeterminedslewing height, and proceeds to the next step SP72.

Incidentally, the slewing height is preliminarily set as a height forobviating interference of the supply arm 35 and the like with othercomponent parts of the microscope system 1 at the time of slewing thecarriage 34, the supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36 as one body bythe rotating base 32.

In step SP72, the control unit 21 controls the rotating base 32 so as toslew the carriage 34, the supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36 as onebody into the storage direction, and then proceeds to the next stepSP73.

In step SP73, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to move in thevertical direction, so as to adjust the supply arm 35 to the height ofthe supply site, as shown in FIG. 28, and proceeds to the next stepSP74.

In step SP74, the control unit 21 carries out a series of pick-upoperation process by the supply arm 35 as shown in the sub-routine SRT1(FIG. 15). In this instance, the control unit 21 extends the supply arm35 as shown in FIG. 29, then contracts the supply arm 35 with the slideglass SG2 mounted on the mount surface 71BX as shown in FIG. 30, andproceeds to the next step SP75.

In step SP75, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the slideglass SG2 has successfully been gripped normally, like in step SP3 ofthe routine RT1. When a negative determination is obtained here, itmeans that the lengths of the longer edge and the shorter edge of theslide glass SG2 fall outside of the allowable ranges, and that the slideglass SG2 should not or cannot be conveyed onto the stage 15. In thisinstance, the control unit 21 returns to step SP73, in order to try topick up another slide glass SG.

On the other hand, when an affirmative determination is obtained in stepSP75, it means that the slide glass SG2 is properly gripped in theholding space 65D as shown in FIG. 31, in other words, the lengths ofthe longer edge and the shorter edge of the slide glass SG2 are withinthe allowable ranges. In this instance, the control unit 21 proceeds tothe next step SP76, in order to convey the slide glass SG2 onto thestage 15.

In step SP76, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to move in thevertical direction, so as to adjust the carriage 34 to the slewingheight, as shown in FIG. 32, and proceeds to the next step SP77.

In step SP77, the control unit 21 controls the rotating base 32 so as toslew the supply arm 35 into the stage direction together with thecarriage 34 and the discharge arm 36, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, andproceeds to the next step SP78.

In step SP78, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to move in thevertical direction so as to adjust the discharge arm 36 to the height ofthe stage 15, as shown in FIG. 35, and proceeds to the next step SP79.

In step SP79, the control unit 21, upon completion of the image sensingtreatment of the slide glass SG1, moves the stage 15 to a predeterminedreplacement position as shown in FIG. 35, and proceeds to the next stepSP80.

In step SP80, the control unit 21 carries out a series of pick-upoperation process by the discharge arm 36 as shown in the sub-routineSRT3 (FIG. 23). In this case, the control unit 21 extends the dischargearm 36 as shown in FIG. 36, and raises the discharge arm 36 as shown inFIG. 37, to thereby mount the slide glass SG1 onto the mount surface71BX. Further, the control unit 21 contracts the discharge arm 36 asshown in FIG. 38, thereby gripping the slide glass SG1 in the holdingspace 85D, and proceeds to the next step SP81.

In step SP81, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to movedownward, so as to adjust the supply arm 35 to the height of the stage15 as shown in FIG. 39, and proceeds to the next step SP82.

In step SP82, the control unit 21 performs a series of releasingoperation process by the supply arm 35 as shown in the sub-routine SRT2(FIG. 16). In this case, the control unit 21 extends the supply arm 35as shown in FIG. 40, lowers the supply arm 35 as shown in FIG. 41 so asto mount the slide glass SG2 onto the stage 15, then contracts thesupply arm 35 as shown in FIG. 42, and proceeds to the next step SP83.

In step SP83, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to move in thevertical direction, so as to adjust the carriage 34 to the slewingheight together with the supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36, andproceeds to the next step SP84.

In step SP84, the control unit 21 controls the rotating base 32 so as toslew the carriage 34, the supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36 as onebody into the storage direction as shown in FIGS. 43 and 44, andproceeds to the next step SP85.

In step SP85, the control unit 21 causes the carriage 34 to move in thevertical direction so as to adjust the height of the discharge arm 36 tothe discharge site, or the slot into which to discharge the slide glassSG1, in the multi-sheet cassette 40 as shown in FIG. 45, and thenproceeds to the next step SP86.

In step SP86, the control unit 21 carries out a series of releasingoperation process by the discharge arm 36 as shown in the sub-routineSRT4 (FIG. 24). In this case, the control unit 21 extends the dischargearm 36, then lowers the discharge arm 36 as shown in FIG. 46 so as tosupport the slide glass SG1 by the multi-sheet cassette 40, furthercontracts the discharge arm 36, and proceeds to the next step SP87.

In step SP87, the control unit 21 finishes the routine RT3, therebyfinishing the procedure of the series of conveying operation process bythe supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36.

1-7. Operation and Effect

In the conveying unit 3 of the microscope system 1 configured as above,the supply arm 35 for supplying the slide glass SG onto the stage 15 andthe discharge arm 36 for discharging the slide glass SG from the stage15 are set independent from each other, and are mounted to the carriage34 in the manner of overlapping with each other on the upper and lowersides.

During the image sensing (photographing) treatment of a slide glass SGmounted on the stage 15, the control unit 21 of the controlling unit 4causes the supply arm 35 to pick up and hold a new slide glass SG, andsets it in a stand-by state in the vicinity of the stage 15 togetherwith the empty discharge arm 36.

Then, upon completion of the image sensing (photographing) treatment ofthe slide glass SG, the control unit 21 of the controlling unit 4discharges the slide glass SG from the stage 15 by the discharge arm 36,and immediately dispose the new slide glass onto the stage 15 by thesupply arm 35.

This ensures that, in the microscope system 1, the replacing process forthe slide glass SG mounted on the stage 15 can be completed in anextremely short time.

Particularly, in the microscope system 1, the image sensing(photographing) treatment for producing image pickup data on the slideglass SG is a most time-consuming process, and the image sensingtreatment cannot be carried out during the replacing process for theslide glass SG. In relation to this point, it is possible in themicroscope system 1 to complete the replacing process for the slideglass SG in an extremely short time, and, therefore, it is possible toconsiderably shorten the stand-by time for the image sensing treatmentand to enhance the working efficiency.

Consequently, in the microscope system 1, in the case of producing imagepickup data on a large number (e.g., 300 sheets) of slide glasses SG,the required time can be greatly shortened, and the speed of productionof all image pickup data can be enhanced drastically.

Besides, in the microscope system 1, the length in the Q-axis directionof the holding space 65D defined by the guide sections 65B and 65C ofthe supply arm 35 is adjusted to the longer edge upper limit for theslide glass SG, and the slide glasses SG which cannot be held in theholding space 65D are not picked up.

Further, in the microscope system 1, at the time of gripping the slideglass SG by the gripping unit 70A of the supply arm 35, the grip spacingis detected, and, if the grip spacing falls outside of the shorter edgeallowable range, the slide glass SG is not picked up.

Thus, in the microscope system 1, the slide glass SG falling outside ofthe allowable range can be preliminarily excluded at the time stage ofpicking up the slide glass SG by the supply arm 35. Consequently, in themicroscope system 1, it is possible to obviate a time-consumingoperation such as “performing again a replacing treatment of the slideglass SG because the fact that the slide glass SG falls outside of theallowable range is not found until the time stage of mounting the slideglass SG onto the stage 15.”

On the other hand, in the microscope system 1, the length in the Q-axisdirection and the length in the P-axis direction of the holding space85D in the discharge arm 36 provided separately from the supply arm 35are set to be greater than the longer edge upper limit and the shorteredge upper limit for the slide glass SG. Consequently, in the microscopesystem 1, at the time of picking up from the stage 15 a slide glass SGwhich has undergone the image sensing (photographing) treatment or forwhich the fixing treatment has failed, the slide glass SG can be pickedup assuredly even if the slide glass SG is positionally deviated orinclined from a properly mounted state.

For example, in the microscope system 1, an application mode is assumedin which a large number (e.g., 300 sheets) of slide glasses SG arepreliminarily set in the storage unit 38, and image pickup data aresequentially produced in an unmanned manner by a continuous imagesensing treatment in the night.

In such a case, if a slide glass SG is present which cannot be removedfrom the stage 15 by a series of conveying operation, the image sensingtreatment of the subsequent other slide glasses SG cannot be continued,and the whole process is interrupted, so that the remaining image pickupdata cannot be produced.

On the other hand, in the microscope system 1, slide glasses SG invarious states can be picked up and discharged by the discharge arm 36,while preliminarily excluding the slide glasses SG falling outside ofprescription by the supply arm 35. This makes it possible in themicroscope system 1 to enhance reliability of the series of conveyingoperations, and to suppress to an extremely low level the possibility ofinterruption of the continuous image sensing process.

Besides, in the microscope system 1, the plurality of pedestals 37A to37E are arranged along the circumference of a circle on the uppersurface 31A of the base section 31, and the slide glasses SG areconveyed between the multi-sheet cassettes 40 or one-sheet trays 50 onthe pedestals 37A to 37E and the stage 15 by the rotating operation ofthe rotating base 32.

Meanwhile, in a configuration in which a heavy structure isrectilinearly moved over a long distance as disclosed in Patent Document1, it may be necessary to enhance the rigidity of each component or partor to suppress an acceleration to a low level, in order that thecomponent or part can endure the moments generated due to accelerationand/or deceleration.

On the other hand, in the microscope system 1, heavy bodies can beconcentrated on the center of rotation of a rotating motion, so thatstable operations can be performed even in the case of high-speedconveying operations. This makes it possible in the microscope system 1to easily enhance accuracy while adopting a simple configuration.

In addition, in such a configuration as disclosed in Patent Document 1,as schematically shown in FIG. 47A, the occupied area necessary for armmovement on the basis of one multi-sheet cassette 40 is a roughlyrectangular area S1.

On the other hand, in the configuration in which a rotating motion isused as in the microscope system 1, as schematically shown in FIG. 47B,the occupied area necessary for arm movement on the basis of onemulti-sheet cassette 40 is a roughly sector-shaped area S2. Thus, in themicroscope system 1, the device configuration can be reduced in size.

In addition, in the one-sheet tray 50 (FIG. 6) of the microscope system1, the supply tray 52 on which to mount a slide glass SG to be suppliedonto the stage 15 and the discharge tray 53 on which to mount a slideglass SG having undergone an image sensing (photographing) treatment areprovided separately from each other.

This ensures that, in the microscope system 1, a new slide glass SG tobe photographed next can be disposed on the supply tray 52, withoutcausing the operator to worry about the discharge place for a givenslide glass SG, during the photographing treatment of the given slideglass SG.

In other words, in the microscope system 1, there is no possibility ofgeneration of a waiting time such as that in “waiting for the dischargeof a slide glass SG having undergone an image sensing (photographing)treatment, taking the slide glass SG, and mounting a new slide glassSG.”

Further, in the supply tray 52 of the one-sheet tray 50, the lengths ofthe longer edge and the shorter edge of the holding space 52E (FIGS. 7and 8) are set to be comparable to the longer edge upper limit and theshorter edge upper limit for the slide glass SG.

This ensures that, in the case where the operator cannot mount a slideglass SG in the holding space 52E, the supply tray 52 permits theoperator to recognize that the length of the longer edge or the shorteredge of the slide glass SG falls outside of the allowable range and itmay be impossible to properly mount the slide glass SG onto the stage15.

On the other hand, in the discharge tray 53 of the one-sheet tray 50,the lengths of the longer edge and the shorter edge of the holding space53D (FIGS. 9 and 10) are set to be sufficiently greater than the longeredge upper limit and the shorter edge upper limit for the slide glassSG.

This ensures in the discharge tray 53 that, even if the slide glass SGis gripped by the discharge arm 36 in the state of being positionallydeviated or inclined, the risk of erroneous falling or breaking of theslide glass SG at the time of mounting the slide glass SG in the holdingspace 53D by the discharge arm 36 can be greatly lowered.

According to the above configuration, the one-sheet tray 50 has thesupply tray 52 and the discharge tray 53 provided independently fromeach other. The supply tray 52 has a structure wherein the lengths ofthe longer edge and the shorter edge of the holding space 52E are set tobe comparable to the longer edge upper limit and the shorter edge upperlimit for the slide glass SG, whereby the operator is permitted toimmediately recognize that a slide glass SG falling outside of theallowable range is falling outside of the allowable range at the time ofmounting the slide glass SG. Besides, the discharge tray 53 has astructure wherein the lengths of the longer edge and the shorter edge ofthe holding space 53D are set to be greater than the longer edge upperlimit and the shorter edge upper limit for the slide glass SG, whereby aslide glass SG having a positional deviation or an inclination can bedischarged properly. Consequently, the microscope system 1 makes itpossible to enhance the working efficiency in replacing the slide glass.

2. Other Embodiments

Incidentally, in the embodiment above, description has been made of thecase where the supply arm 35 is provided with the fall-off preventiveguide 65.

The present application is not limited to the above-describedconfiguration; for example, in the case where the gripping force of thegripping unit 70A is sufficient or in other similar cases, the fall-offpreventive guide 65 may be omitted.

In addition, in the embodiment above, description has been made of thecase where the lengths of the longer edge and the shorter edge of theholding space 65D in the supply arm 35 are set to the longer edge upperlimit and the shorter edge upper limit, respectively.

The present application is not restricted to this configuration; forexample, in the case where the length in the longer edge direction ofeach slot in the multi-sheet cassette 40 is set to the longer edge upperlimit or in other similar cases, the lengths of the longer edge and theshorter edge of the holding space 65D may be set to be greater than thelonger edge upper limit and the shorter edge upper limit, respectively.Besides, in such a case, the size of the holding space 65D in the supplyarm 35 may be set comparable to the size of the holding space 85D in thedischarge arm 36.

Further, in the embodiment above, description has been made of the casewherein the length of the shorter edge of the slide glass SG gripped inthe gripping operation of the supply arm 35 is obtained as a gripspacing (grip interval) and it is determined whether or not the gripspacing falls within the shorter edge allowable range.

The present application is not limited to this configuration, and aconfiguration may be adopted in which the grip spacing is not obtainedin the gripping operation and it is not determined whether or not thegrip spacing falls within the shorter edge allowable range.

Furthermore, in the embodiment above, description has been made of thecase where the discharge arm 36 is provided with the fall-off preventiveguide 85.

The present application is not restricted to this configuration; forexample, in the case where the gripping force of the gripping unit 90Ais sufficient or in other similar cases, the fall-off preventive guide85 may be omitted.

Further, in the embodiment above, description has been made of the casewherein the slide glass SG is moved along the shorter edge directionduring the extending operation and the contracting operation of thesupply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36.

The present application is not limited to this configuration; forexample, the slide glass SG may be moved along the longer edge directionduring the extending operation and the contracting operation of thesupply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36. In this case, the stage 15 andthe multi-sheet cassette 40 and the one-sheet tray 50 in the storageunit 38 may also be shaped so that the slide glass SG is moved along thelonger edge direction.

Furthermore, in the embodiment above, description has been made of thecase wherein the supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36 are fixed to thecarriage 34 in the state of being oriented in the same direction andoverlapping with each other on the upper and lower sides.

The present application is not restricted to this configuration. Forexample, the supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36 may be fixed in thestate of being oriented in different directions or being juxtaposed onthe left and right sides, or may further be so set that their directionscan be changed freely.

Further, in the embodiment above, description has been made of the casewherein the pedestals 37 are arranged along the circumference of acircle, and the supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36 are oriented intothe direction of the stage 15 or the multi-sheet cassette 40 or theone-sheet tray 50 by the rotating operation of the rotating base 32.

The present application is not limited to this configuration; forexample, like in Patent Document 1, a configuration may be adoptedwherein the pedestals 37 are arranged on a straight line along theX-axis direction and the prop 33 is moved rectilinearly in the X-axisdirection.

Furthermore, in the embodiment above, description has been made of thecase where the discharge tray 53 is provided with the hole 53G and apart of the slide glass SG is exposed from the hole 53G by the processesin steps SP66 to SP68 of the sub-routine SRT3 (FIG. 24).

The present application is not restricted to this configuration; forexample, the spacing between the supply tray 52 and the discharge tray53 may be broadened, the hole 53G may be omitted, and the processes insteps SP66 to SP68 may not be carried out. In such a case, it sufficesfor the operator to take out the slide glass SG directly from theholding space 53D.

Further, in the embodiment above, description has been made of the casewherein improper holding of the slide glass SG in the holding space 52Eof the supply tray 52 is recognized by the operator through tactilesensation, visual sensation or auditory sensation.

The present application is not limited to this configuration; forexample, a configuration may be adopted in which cross marks (+) areformed in the four corners in top plan view of the slide glass SG and animage of the supply tray 52 is picked up from above by a predeterminedcamera to thereby detect the held state of the slide glass SG. In thiscase, the tetragon obtained by interconnecting the center points of thecross marks on the image picked up by the camera is substantially arectangle when the slide glass SG is held properly and the tetragon is atrapezoid or a parallelogram when the slide glass SG is not heldproperly. Therefore, it suffices to determine the held state of theslide glass SG by detecting the center points of the cross marks,through image processing or the like, and computing the lengths of theedges of the tetragon and/or the positional relationships between thecenter points.

Furthermore, in the embodiment above, description has been made of thecase where the one-sheet tray 50 is provided with a single supply tray52 and a single discharge tray 53.

The present application is not restricted to this configuration; forexample, the one-sheet tray 50 may be provided with two or more supplytrays 52, or two or more discharge trays 53, or with both two or moresupply trays 52 and two or more discharge trays 53.

Further, in the embodiment above, description has been made of the casewhere the number of the pedestal 37 provided on the base section 31 isfive.

The present application is not limited to this configuration, and thenumber of the pedestals 37 provided on the base section 31 is anarbitrary number such as three or six. In such a case, the distance fromthe center of rotation of the rotating base 32 to each of the pedestalsvaries according to the number of the pedestals 37, and, therefore, itis recommendable to determine the number of the pedestals while takinginto account the balance thereof with, for example, the lengths ofcomponent sections of the supply arm 35 and the discharge arm 36.

Furthermore, in the embodiment above, description has been made of thecase where the number of sheets of the slide glass SG which can bestored in the multi-sheet cassette 40 is sixty.

The present application is not restricted to this configuration, and thenumber of sheets of the slide glasses SG which can be stored in themulti-sheet cassette 40 may be an arbitrary number such as fifty oreighty. In this case, the height (the length in the Z-axis direction) ofthe multi-sheet cassette 40 varies according to the number of sheets ofthe slide glasses SG, and, therefore, it suffices to determine theheight of the prop 33 according to this factor.

Further, in the embodiment above, description has been made of the casewhere the microscope unit 2 is combined with the conveying unit 3 andthe controlling unit 4.

The present application is not limited to this configuration; forexample, the conveying unit 3 and the controlling unit 4 may be put intocombination with any of various treating devices for subjecting theslide glasses SG to a predetermined treatment one sheet at a time, suchas a label adhering device for printing a label and adhering it to eachslide glass SG.

Furthermore, in the embodiment above, description has been made of thecase where the one-sheet tray 50 as a slide glass storage deviceincludes the supply tray 52 as a supply tray, the discharge tray 53 as adischarge tray, and the support plate 51 as a support unit.

The present application, however, is not restricted to thisconfiguration, and the slide glass storage device may include a supplytray, a discharge tray, and a support unit which are configured in othervarious manners.

Further, in the embodiment above, description has been made of the casewherein the microscope system 1 as a conveying device or a microscopesystem includes the one-sheet tray 50 as a slide glass storage device,the stage 15 as a stage, the supply arm 35 as a supply arm, thedischarge arm 36 as a discharge arm, the rotating base 32 and thecarriage 34 as a moving unit, and the controlling unit 4 as a controlunit.

The present application, however, it not limited to this configuration,and the conveying device or the microscope system may include a slideglass storage device, a stage, a supply arm, a discharge arm, a movingunit, and a control unit which are configured in other various manners.

The present application is also applicable to other various microscopesdesigned to magnify an image of a slide glass.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope and without diminishing itsintended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes andmodifications be covered by the appended claims.

1. A slide glass storage device comprising: a supply tray which has asupply holding space determined by a longer edge upper limit allowed fora longer edge of a slide glass and a shorter edge upper limit allowedfor a shorter edge of the slide glass and on which a slide glass to besupplied to a treatment unit operable to perform a predeterminedtreatment is mounted; a discharge tray which has a discharge holdingspace determined by a longer edge longer than the longer edge upperlimit and a shorter edge longer than the shorter edge upper limit and onwhich a slide glass having been subjected to the treatment in thetreatment unit and being to be discharged is mounted; and a support unitsupporting the supply tray and the discharge tray.
 2. The slide glassstorage device according to claim 1, wherein the supply holding space isopen on the upper side thereof and receives the slide glass to bemounted from the upper side; and the supply tray is so configured that astep between an inside bottom surface forming a bottom surface of thesupply holding space and a partial upper surface connected to an insidewall surface restricting the holding space in the longer edge directionis set to be comparable to the thickness of the slide glass, whereby apart of a slide glass of which at least the length of the longer edge isin excess of the longer edge upper limit or the length of the shorteredge is in excess of the shorter edge upper limit is supported by thepartial upper surface.
 3. The slide glass storage device according toclaim 1, wherein the supply tray is so configured that an inside bottomsurface forming a bottom surface of the supply holding space is formedonly at both end sections in the longer edge direction, and the spacingbetween the inside bottom surfaces is set to be equal or approximate toa longer edge lower limit allowable for the longer edge of the slideglass, whereby a slide glass of which the length of the longer edge isless than the longer edge lower limit is not held in the supply holdingspace.
 4. The slide glass storage device according to claim 1, whereinthe support unit supports the supply tray and the discharge tray so asto locate the discharge tray under the supply tray; and the dischargetray has a hole through which the slide glass is protruded sideways fromthe discharge holding space.
 5. A conveying device comprising: a stagewhich holds only one sheet of slide glass to be subjected to apredetermined treatment; a slide glass storage device including a supplytray which has a supply holding space determined by a longer edge upperlimit allowed for a longer edge of the slide glass and a shorter edgeupper limit allowed for a shorter edge of the slide glass and on which aslide glass to be supplied to a treatment unit is mounted, a dischargetray which has a discharge holding space determined by a longer edgelonger than the longer edge upper limit and a shorter edge longer thanthe shorter edge upper limit and on which a slide glass having beensubjected to the treatment on the stage and discharged is mounted, and asupport unit which supports the supply tray and the discharge tray; asupply arm by which one sheet of the slide glass to be subjected to thetreatment is picked up from the supply tray of the slide glass storagedevice and is supplied onto the stage; a discharge arm by which theslide glass mounted on the stage is picked up and is discharged onto thedischarge tray of the slide glass storage device; a moving unit whichmoves the supply arm and the discharge arm in an integral manner so asto bring the supply arm or the discharge arm into proximity to each ofthe slide glass storage device and the stage; and a control unit whichcontrols the supply arm, the discharge arm and the moving unit.
 6. Theconveying device according to claim 5, wherein the support unit of theslide glass storage device supports the supply tray and the dischargetray so as to locate the discharge tray under the supply tray; thedischarge arm inserts the slide glass into the discharge holding spacefrom a lateral side of the discharge tray; the discharge tray of theslide glass storage device has a hole section permitting the slide glassto protrude therethrough from the discharge holding space to a lateralside opposite to the lateral side from which the slide glass is insertedby the discharge arm; and the control unit causes the discharge arm tomount the slide glass having been mounted on the stage onto thedischarge tray of the slide glass storage device and thereafter causesthe discharge arm to push in the slide glass further, whereby a part ofthe slide glass is exposed from the hole section.
 7. A microscope systemcomprising: a stage operable to hold thereon only one sheet of slideglass of which a magnified image is to be formed; a slide glass storagedevice including a supply tray which has a supply holding spacedetermined by a longer edge upper limit allowed for a longer edge of theslide glass and a shorter edge upper limit allowed for a shorter edge ofthe slide glass and on which a slide glass to be supplied onto the stageis mounted, a discharge tray which has a discharge holding spacedetermined by a longer edge longer than the longer edge upper limit anda shorter edge longer than the shorter edge upper limit and on which aslide glass having been subjected to formation of the magnified imageand discharged is mounted, and a support unit which supports the supplytray and the discharge tray; a supply arm operable to pick up one sheetof the slide glass of which the magnified image is to be formed, fromthe supply tray of the slide glass storage device, and operable tosupply the slide glass onto the stage; a discharge arm by which theslide glass mounted on the stage is picked up and is discharged onto thedischarge tray of the slide glass storage device; a moving unit whichmoves the supply arm and the discharge arm in an integral manner so asto bring the supply arm or the discharge arm into proximity to each ofthe slide glass storage device the stage; and a control unit whichcontrols the supply arm, the discharge arm and the moving unit.